The Pune Regional Transport Office has opened a WhatsApp complaint channel for Diwali travellers who believe private bus operators have overcharged them, asking passengers to send ticket copies and other details for investigation. The number issued by the RTO is 8275330209.
The move follows a meeting between RTO officials and private bus operators, during which the operators were asked to follow the fare formula applicable during the festive season. According to an RTO official quoted by the Times of India, operators have been told not to deviate from the prescribed limits.
Under the formula cited by the RTO, a private bus operator can increase the fare by 50% of the fare charged by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation for an MSRTC bus of the same make travelling to the same destination. The RTO said private operators should use this formula while setting fares for Diwali travel.
Passengers who believe they have been fleeced have been asked to send their complaint to the WhatsApp number along with all relevant details, including a copy of the ticket. The RTO official said the complaints would be examined and an investigation would be conducted.
The complaint channel places the ticket at the centre of the enforcement process. A ticket can provide the RTO with details of the journey and the fare paid, allowing officials to examine whether the charge was consistent with the formula communicated to operators. The report does not specify a separate deadline for submitting complaints or the expected response time after a complaint is filed.
The intervention comes as Diwali travel increases pressure on intercity bus services and makes fare transparency a direct concern for passengers. For travellers, the RTO’s instruction means that complaints should include the ticket copy and complete journey details rather than only a general allegation of overcharging.
The RTO has asked private bus operators to comply with the prescribed fare formula. Complaints received on 8275330209 will be taken up for investigation, according to the official cited in the report.
